Factors influencing adolescents' oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL)

Abstract

Background: OHRQoL comprises an apparently complex array of biological and psychological aspects of oral health.

Aim: To determine the relative contribution of sociodemographic, psychosocial, or clinical characteristics to OHRQoL in adolescents.

Design: A cross-sectional study of Dunedin adolescents was carried out. Each participant completed a self-administered questionnaire and underwent a clinical examination. Information collected included sociodemographic characteristics (sex, ethnicity, and household deprivation), psychosocial characteristics (self-esteem, psychological well-being, somatisation, and self-perception scores for body image), and clinical measures (DMFS and Dental Aesthetic Index). OHRQoL was measured using the 16-item impact short-form CPQ₁₁₋₁₄ questionnaire. Linear regression analyses used the CPQ₁₁₋₁₄ as the dependent variable, with independent variables entered in related groups.

Results: Three hundred and fifty-three children (48.4% females) took part, representing a 58.8% response rate. Linear regression modelling of the CPQ₁₁₋₁₄ score showed that sociodemographic characteristics were predictors, but the model's overall explanatory power was low (R(2) = 0.05). This increased slightly with inclusion of the clinical variables. When the psychosocial variables were added, however, the R(2) increased to 0.50; all psychosocial variables (except self-esteem) were strongly associated with the CPQ₁₁₋₁₄ score. Psychological well-being was the strongest predictor.

Conclusion: Psychosocial characteristics are important contributors to OHRQoL in adolescents and appear to be more important than sociodemographic or clinical characteristics.